Playground strengthens family bonds 

More than 500 players from families across the country flocked to Nha Trang City to participate in the 2024 national family badminton and table tennis tournament, which kicked off on August 18. The tournament is an opportunity for the families to strengthen family bonds, meet and enjoy interesting activities in the coastal city.

Every year, Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa hosts and co-hosts around 20 national sports competitions. However, not many tournaments have such a vibrant atmosphere both on the field and in the stands as the 2024 national family badminton and table tennis tournament. There are daughters who are both coaches and partners with her parents on the field. Nguyen Thi Linh Trang from Quang Binh Province participates in this year's tournament with her parents. They compete in three events of badminton, including husband and wife (age group of over 56), father and daughter and mother and daughter (age groups of 51 to 55). “Participating in the tournament, my family has the opportunity to meet, exchange and compete with family players from other localities across the country. The tournament is truly a meaningful playground for family members playing together and strengthen their bonds," said Trang. In last year’s tournament, Trang’s family won 2 bronze medals in badminton. She hopes that her family can maintain their achievement in this years’ tournament. She also appreciates the opportunity that her family members can play with each other and enjoy interesting experiences touring Nha Trang. 

Trang’s parents (on the right side) competing in badminton husband and wife’s event

Leading his team in the national family badminton and table tennis tournament for the 7th time, Mai Hong Hai, head of Tay Ninh’s table tennis team is very excited in his 2nd time returning to Nha Trang. “Tay Ninh participate in the 2024 tournament with 21 family players, which is the largest number of players compared to the previous years. Although the quality of players participating in this year’s tournament isn’t as good as it was in the previous tournaments (due to the absence of key family players), every player is very excited to visit Nha Trang. The atmosphere of this tournament is very exciting; the families enjoy spending time playing with each other. After the matches, the families take pleasure in visiting Nha Trang beach. For my family, this is a great opportunity to play table tennis with out family members and meet our relatives and friends in Nha Trang," said Mai Hong Hai.
 

Mai Hong Hai and his daughter compete in father-daughter’s event (Photo: L.D.D)

The tournament is also an opportunity for the families to meet their relatives and friends (Photo: L.D.D)

As the host unit, Khanh Hoa Province has 41 families with 84 players participating in all events, including 28 families in badminton and 13 families in table tennis. According to Hoang Hiep, coach of Khanh Hoa team, this is the first time Khanh Hoa has had so many players registering for all events. Their goal is winning 2-3 gold medals and placing in the top medalists of the tournament. Reportedly, in order to encourage the families, with the support from some sponsors, Khanh Hoa Badminton Federation had recently held a ceremony to offer souvenir plaques (with the names of the players printed on them) and jerseys to the families.

As said by Nguyen Tuan Thanh, deputy director of Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Culture and Sports, head of the organization committee, this is the second time Khanh Hoa has hosted this tournament (the first time was in 2016). The tournament aims to create conditions for families who love sports, especially badminton and table tennis, to meet and play with each other and strengthen connections between family members. In addition, with the participation of more than 500 players from 34 provinces and cities across the country, this is a good opportunity for Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa to introduce and promote the province's tourism to domestic visitors.

An Nhien
Translated by H.N